Posted on 11/21/2015 4:36:54 AM PST by Winniesboy
If the Islamic State suicide bombers who attacked the Stade de France on Friday 13 November had succeeded in entering the stadium, as appears to have been their intention, France might now be facing an additional crisis of political, constitutional and existential significance: namely, the assassination of the president of the republic.
Hollande's survival has been more than merely physical. In the torrid days following the attacks, this unprepossessing politician, who styled himself Monsieur Normal as he fought to unseat Nicolas Sarkozy, has morphed into an extraordinary figure - a gritty leader, popular commander and chef de guerre - who appears, for now, almost larger than life.
Coming from a lifelong Socialist, Hollande's dramatic talk of unbridled war, his embrace of a highly conservative security agenda, and his stated determination to mercilessly crush France's foes seemed incongruous, to say the least. A man of notoriously diminutive stature, Hollande was suddenly walking tall, the John Wayne of the Champs Elysees. After January's Charlie Hebdo shootings, Hollande went looking for causes : social exclusion, economic deprivation, alienation of young Muslims. Last week, he went looking for culprits.
The key to understanding this apparent paradox may lie in the nature of modern political leadership in times of crisis, for Hollande's journey, as a man and statesman, is by no means unique.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Putin has grim determination and then some.
Hollande is a socialist. we will see what happens.
Oh indeed. The only change is the get tough stance and who knows how long that will last.
BS. As I predicted, Hollande is saber rattling & dropping a few bombs, but he is still shilling to admit more Muslim refugees into France. No doubt he thinks the former will give him cover to do the latter—in fact, that may be the ONLY reason why he wants to appear like a man-of-action. My only surprise is that he did it within a week of the Paris massacre—I thought he’d at least wait 2 weeks.
Leftist socialist—but when France is attacked he shows his patriotism and becomes Winston Churchill. That’s what leaders do—sadly we haven’t had one for a while. France will break the back of this new threat then roll up their sleeves and tackle the Islamic enemy athome.
Oh Plz.. He’s milquetoast.
‘Sure pardner, you can let 30,000 more military-aged islamic migrants into my country right after a giant terrorist attack.. You see I don’t mind because I’m such a confident, manly Frenchman... We can just sing that magic song “Imagine” to them and they will fall over weeping and begging to become good Frenchmen.’
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